Dr. Craig is the Chief Medical and Underwriting Director of San Antonio-based PurinaCare Pet Health Insurance. With over 30 years of experience in veterinary medicine, Dr. Craig is passionate about pets and how to keep them healthy and happy for a lifetime.

Note: This is an mySA.com City Brights Blog. These blogs are not written or edited by mySA or the San Antonio Express-News. The authors are solely responsible for the content.

Avoid a Blue Christmas for Fluffy & Fido

The holidays create a dramatic shift in the environment and schedule of pets, which can drastically impact their behavior, activity and safety. The new smells, objects, sounds and frequent visitors and house guests all contribute to making your pets’ surroundings unfamiliar.

Give positive reinforcement with praise and treats for appropriate behavior.

A routine and familiar environment is important to most dogs and cats. During the holidays pets may suffer from the constant changes taking place in their territory. There are new objects to explore, like holiday decorations, new plants and tempting foods to investigate. Being mindful of how your pet may react can make the season pleasant for everyone and avoid an unplanned (and costly!) visit to the veterinarian.